Also known as Calamint · 331 gardener saves
Calamintha: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Calamintha, the genus most gardeners know as calamint. We track 5 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 5 most-saved Calamintha varieties
Of 5 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedMontrose White Lesser Calamint
Calamintha nepeta 'Montrose White'
#2 most savedLesser Calamint
Calamintha nepeta
#3 most savedLesser Calamint
Calamintha nepeta 'Marvelette Blue'
Lesser Calamint
Calamintha nepeta 'var nepeta'
Lesser Calamint
Calamintha nepetoides
How to grow Calamintha
What the Calamintha varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 5 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Calamintha year
- PruneJuly80% of varieties
Shear back by one-third in mid-summer to encourage a second flush of blooms
- Spring CleanupFebruary and March80% of varieties
Cut back old, woody stems to 2-3 inches before new growth starts
- PlantMarch, April, September and October40% of varieties
Plant transplants in spring or fall
- DivideMarch and September40% of varieties
Divide clumps every 3-5 years to maintain vigor
- PropagateMay and June40% of varieties
Take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer.
Do
- Water regularly during dry spells 🌱
- Water during dry spells 🌱
- Mulch to retain moisture
- Prune after flowering to shape the plant
- Apply organic mulch to retain moisture
Avoid
- Refrain from heavy pruning in late fall
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot ❌
- Don't fertilize late in the season to prevent leggy growth
What goes wrong with Calamintha
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap |
| Spider mites | Webbing and stippled leaves | Increase humidity and apply insecticidal soap |
| Powdery mildew | White powdery coating on leaves | Improve air circulation and apply fungicide |
| Root rot | Wilting despite watering | Improve drainage and reduce watering |
| Powdery Mildew | White powdery coating on leaves | Improve air circulation and apply sulfur-based fungicide |
Making more Calamintha
Seed
- Sow seeds on surface of moist soil in early spring.
- Keep soil consistently moist for germination, usually 2-3 weeks.
- Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart after emergence.
Cuttings
- Take 4-inch softwood cuttings in late spring.
- Dip cuttings in rooting hormone.
- Plant in moist potting mix and keep in indirect light.
- Roots develop in 4-6 weeks.
Calamintha questions
How many types of Calamintha are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 5 distinct Calamintha varieties. The most popular — ranked by 331 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Calamintha grow in?
Across its varieties, Calamintha covers USDA Zones 4–9. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Calamintha bloom?
Most Calamintha varieties bloom in mid-summer, early summer, summer to fall. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Calamintha should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Calamintha shows up in
Design with Calamintha in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
